re: Class of 2016 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Waiting On Demetris Robertson Edition

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9. Jalen Hurts – Alabama commit
Jalen Hurts is really good at delivering those ever important check-down routes. Some guys throw it late and off balance or out of rhythm or uncatchable fastballs but Hurts is able to re-set his feet and quickly deliver the football in a place that these guys can catch it and make plays with it. He found 3 of those type of passes but also hit on two intermediate level routes, showing plenty of arm and zip.
Final numbers: 5-6

Of note: Hurts told us that he's known Alabama would be his destination for about a month and that he had built strong relationships with several coaches on the staff.

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Saban still assured him in this conference call that Pass was and has been his No. 1 target.

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Physical Prowess

DT Kendell Jones | Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker

This goes to the player who looks the best getting off the bus (or in this case coming through registration), and no one looked better on the hoof than Jones. In fact, even including Ben Cleveland from last year, no one has ever looked better than Jones in the history of this event. The All-Lobby Team was made for a guy like Jones, who measured in at 6-foot-5, 351 pounds with zero bad weight.

Honorable Mention: DE Nick Coe looks amazing on the hoof and is built exactly the way an end should be while DT Rashan Gary and DT Dexter Lawrence are both huge and dominant guys. WR Nate Craig-Myers didn't have very good quarterbacks and seemed to lose interest at times, but he's a great looking receiver, as is DeKaylin Metcalf.

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Anger Management

OL Terrance Davis | Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha

The winner of this award is the prospect who plays with the most passion and anger and that was Davis, who showed he loved to mix it up against everyone and played to the whistle every time. There's something in the water in Maryland, as last year's winner, Richie Petitbon, also hailed from the home state of Under Armour. Davis was one of the surprises of the event as he held his own with some bigger names and showed he loved to mix it up and has a nasty streak.

Honorable Mention: OL Baveon Johnson held a bit too much at times, but he also put a few people in the ground in one-on-ones while DT Kendell Jones hurt people without trying, knocking a few guys in the face by accident and even nearly pushing over massive OL coach George Hegaman once. He might be a bull in a china shop but he's fun to watch and he can do some damage when he gets upset. OG Michael Onwenu and OT Sean Pollard both had their moments as well where they mixed it up and showed a bit of anger, as did fellow OL Drake Jackson.

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Bear Market

WR Darnell Salomon | Miami (Fla. ) Central

This award goes to the prospect that hurt his ranking the most and the tough choice here is Salomon despite and, in some ways because of, his recent bump to five stars. The expectations for a five-star are very, very high and Salomon had a really rough day overall, dropping a ton of passing in drills and one-on-ones in the morning and not being a factor for his one-win team in 7-on-7. Some of it had to do with quarterback play, but there were no excuses for the drops. Salomon reminded many of our analysts of George Campbell from last year, a great athlete who struggled with his hands, even before his Five-Star Challenge struggles. He now seems to be quickly headed in the opposite direction of Campbell who kept improving until he earned his fifth star in our last cycle of 2015 rankings.

Honorable Mention: LB Keion Joyner has had a rash of injuries and just hasn't been the same player since he struggled in the playoffs at the end of his junior season. For five-star DT Derrick Brown this was supposed to be about redemption from a poor performance a year ago, but he essentially repeated that scenario. DE Ron Johnson is ranked a bit too high right outside the Rivals100 and was small in comparison to the rest of the group without flashing the needed speed. DE Shane Simmons looks more like a big linebacker each time we see him. LB Lokeni Toailoa is a downhill guy and linebackers often struggle at these events, but he looked a step slower than most. QB Xavier Gaines struggled mightily with his accuracy and was clearly the worst of the eight Five-Star Challenge quarterbacks in 7-on play. OL Frank Martin looks more and more like a guard and LB Anthony Hines doesn't have the quick-twitch ability you'd expect from a kid with 70 offers.

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Stickum

TE Isaac Nauta | Bradenton (Fla.) IMG

This award goes to the player with the best hands, and Nauta caught everything thrown his way. Is he the next Nick O'Leary at Florida State? He could very well be. He reminds me of O'Leary a bit, especially making catches in traffic down the middle of the field. Nauta likes to work outside the hashes as well and is especially dangerous on out routes in the end zone and he seems to catch everything out in front of his body, just as receivers are taught.

Honorable Mention: LB Lyndell Wilson had numerous interceptions in both one-on-one situations and in 7-on-7 play. He showed off adequate hands as a running back as well as his team searched for any offensive answer. But on defense he's especially dangerous as he can catch the ball with ease even after just getting his head around. WR Binjimen Victor showed good hands, especially in the evening session and especially in the end zone, while fellow WR T.J. Chase didn't drop much all day, either. Prior to an injury, WR Elijah Stove was very good down the middle of the field making tough catches over his shoulder, while WR Mecole Hardman once again flashed elite hands. DB Saivion Smith showed off his mitts on a few nice interceptions as well.

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Mr. Pick

LB Lyndell Wilson | Montgomery (Ala.) Carver

This goes to the player who had the most interceptions over the weekend and was the biggest threat to pick off a pass. It's rare when a linebacker wins this award, but Wilson is the exception. Wilson's three interceptions of note were matched by others, but he was covering wide receivers at time for his outgunned team and in one-on-ones he took on all comers. Wilson has done the same thing at many other events including our Atlanta regional. His coverage ability is uncanny and hard to teach.

Honorable Mention: DB Saivion Smith had a few nice picks and did a good job of jumping routes and reading the quarterback. He's a bit of a gambler, but that mentality will serve him well at LSU. LB Devin Bush had a couple of nice picks during one-on-ones and gets to the ball with good instincts and football smarts while DB DeAngelo Gibbs and DB JoeJuan Williams are big players in safety bodies who can solo cover and have good ball skills.

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